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Monday, 16 December 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JANE AUSTEN! SUE POMEROY, FILM MAKER (FUSCHIA FILM)

What would my life have been like without Jane Austen?

Jane Austen's novels have brought so much joy into my life and helped me enrich the lives of thousands of others! My stage adaptation of Pride & Prejudice has performed to tens of thousands of people across the UK, and the experience of sitting in a packed auditorium listening to the delighted laughter of audiences across the country, and feeling the hearts of all those present being touched by Jane Austen's beautiful observations and moving love stories - that has been so memorable and life enhancing. When I collaborated on the adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma, I wondered if it could match the experience, but thanks to some fantastic performances, especially from Jonathan Cecil as Mr Woodhouse, it was also a wonderful production. Seeing the response to her novels on stage in No. 1 theatres makes you realise just what an outstanding writer she is; her brilliant creation of characters, her exploration of relationships and her witty social observations which still speak to us so powerfully today,

It's a dreary Sunday in England, and we've had hours of heavy rain: I can't help wondering how a mid December birthday would have affected Jane's enjoyment of her red letter day. Then I remind myself that she always had Christmas on the horizon, and with a large, happy family around her, it must have been an exciting time, brimful with anticipation, with the Christmas festivities only nine days away. So, on balance, Jane probably had many happy birthdays! And of course only last week, the sun was shining as we arrived in Lyme Regis on a beautiful, golden day to interview a surviving relative of Jane Austen - her great grand neice, Diana Shervington. Diana's grand mother was the grand daughter of Jane's brother, Edward Austen (later Knight), and Diana has all the fun and love of life you associate with Jane Austen herself. We spent several fascinating hours with Diana, as she showed us precious possessions left to her from her famous aunt and her siblings: a game of 'spilikins', a pair of ivory, calf skin gloves which belonged to Jane and a lace cap and fichu that Jane herself embroidered among other memorabilia. Diana lives in the heart of Lyme Regis, a favourite haunt of her great aunt Jane, with its picturesque location on the cliffs overlooking the Dorset coast, and the famous Cobb which features in the novel, Persuasion.

A few weeks earlier in Bath, we filmed an interview at the Bath Fashion Museum with Rosemary Harden, the Curator: another fascinating insight into Jane's time in Bath and the latest styles and fashions of the Regency period. We are so excited about our progress with this fascinating new film. Do join us on the journey!

Sue Pomeroy is currently making a new film about Jane Austen’s life and work, Jane Austen - Overcoming Pride and Prejudice,

1 comment:

I have never watch a stage adaptation of any Jane Austen's novel but I would love to attend given the chance. Alas so far there is none shown in my country yet as I know. Btw, I give my support to your film production of Jane Austen: Overcoming Pride and Prejudice and wish you the very best. I'm waiting to see the finish product.

About Me

I've been an English teacher for a long time now and a blogger for more than 5 years. I love classic literature, reading, theatre, period drama, art and that is what I usually write about on FLY HIGH and My Jane Austen Book Club. I'd love to hear from you! Leave your comments to my posts or send e-mail messages to learnonline.mgs@gmail.com.